Washington,
D.C. – Secretary
of the Interior
Dirk Kempthorne
will cap a week-long
celebration of
National
Wildlife Refuge Week by
unveiling the
winning artwork
for the 75th
National Duck
Stamp, visiting
the refuge honoring
the conservationist
who launched
the nation’s
most prestigious
nature art contest,
and speaking
to conservation
and outdoor groups
about increasing
opportunities
for children
to experience
nature.

“National
wildlife refuges
are our promise
to the American
people that fish
and wildlife
will always have
a place on the
American landscape,” Secretary
Kempthorne said. “These
special places
also offer some
of the most serene
lands and waters
in the world,
where adults
and children
alike can interact
with nature.
Whether hiking,
bird watching,
taking photographs,
fishing, hunting
or just being
in the outdoors,
visitors can
relax, reinvigorate
themselves and
make a special
connection with
nature.”

Last year, more
than 39 million
people visited
America's national
wildlife refuges.
There is at least
one national
wildlife refuge
in every state
and most city
dwellers can
find a national
wildlife refuge
less than an
hour's drive
from their front
door.

Kempthorne will
be accompanied
at the events
on Sanibel Island,
Florida by Dale
Hall, Director
of the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife
Service. On Friday,
Oct. 12, 2007,
Kempthorne will
speak to an internal
session of the
American Sportfishing
Association on
the need to increase
children’s
interaction with
Nature.

Following that
he will visit
J.N “Ding” Darling
National Wildlife
Refuge, from
11 a.m. to 1:30
p.m. The refuge
is named for
Jay Norwood Darling,
the nationally
known cartoonist
and conservationist
who designed
the first Federal
Duck Stamp and
launched the
nation’s
oldest nature
art contest and
one of the world’s
most successful
conservation
programs.

Kempthorne will
then participate
in a “Children
and Nature” fishing
event on Tarpon
Bay. There will
be a media availability
at the Tarpon
Bay Boat Dock
at 2 p.m. In
the evening,
Kempthorne will
deliver keynote
remarks at the “Art
for Conservation
on Sanibel” event
at The Sanctuary.

On Saturday,
Oct. 13, 2007
the Secretary
will participate
in the 75th Annual
Federal Duck
Stamp Contest,
unveiling the
winning artwork
for next year’s
Federal Duck
Stamp and personally
telephoning the
winners. The
annual event
is held on Sanibel
Island this year
to honor Jay
Norwood “Ding” Darling,
founder of the
Federal Duck
Stamp program.

The proceeds
from the sale
of $15 Federal
Duck Stamps to
hunters of migratory
waterfowl fund
the acquisition
of wetland habitat
for the National
Wildlife Refuge
System. Since
the program began,
more than $700
million has been
raised to acquire
more than 5.2
million acres
of habitat and
hundreds of national
wildlife refuges.

The National
Wildlife Refuge
System, with
548 national
wildlife refuges,
protects 97 million
acres of fish
and wildlife
habitat. Scores
of refuges are
offering special
programs to help
celebrate National
Wildlife Refuge
Week, from October
7-13, 2007. More
information is
available online
at http://www.fws.gov.

Secretary Kempthorne
will be available
for separate
media interviews
on Oct. 12 and
13. Please contact
Chris Paolino
(202-208-5338)
to schedule interviews
with the Secretary.

EVENT 1

Who: Secretary
of the Interior
Dirk Kempthorne
and Director
of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife
Service Dale
HallWhat: Children
and Nature fishing
event and media
availabilityWhen: 1:45 p.m.,
Oct. 12, 2007Where: Tarpon
Bay Boat Dock,
Sanibel Island,
FloridaMedia: All credentialed
media are invited
to attend a 2
p.m. media availability

EVENT 2

Who: Secretary
of the Interior
Dirk Kempthorne and
Director of
the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife
Service Dale
HallWhat: Keynote
remarks “Art
for Conservation
on Sanibel” When: 6:30 p.m.,
Oct. 12, 2007Where: The Sanctuary,
Sanibel Island,
Florida